Cruise Question of the Day: June 2008

sailingrose · June 24, 2008

Cleanliness is #1 but my #2 would be number of passengers! I can't imagine getting on a ship with 5000 passengers like Oasis of the Seas.

JoeyandDavid · June 24, 2008

Several negative reviews from experienced cruisers.

Ed define experienced ?

TheSkipper · June 24, 2008

Joey, I would define it as cruisers who have made several cruises so they have a true basis for comparison. Many of the negative reviews I read are written my new cruisers who had unrealistic expectations to begin with. I guess I'd add cruises on at least a couple of different cruise lines.

I would call you an experienced cruiser having done HAL, RCI, Princess and Celebrity. Good cross section. Now someone else could have done as many cruises as you, all on one cruise line, tried a different cruise line and the differences can become negatives in a review.

I also look at the make-up of the group writing the review. Someone sailing with children will have a different take on a cruise than an older couple (like us).

Hope this all makes sense.

JoeyandDavid · June 24, 2008

Joey, I would define it as cruisers who have made several cruises so they have a true basis for comparison. Many of the negative reviews I read are written my new cruisers who had unrealistic expectations to begin with. I guess I'd add cruises on at least a couple of different cruise lines.
I would call you an experienced cruiser having done HAL, RCI, Princess and Celebrity. Good cross section. Now someone else could have done as many cruises as you, all on one cruise line, tried a different cruise line and the differences can become negatives in a review.

I also look at the make-up of the group writing the review. Someone sailing with children will have a different take on a cruise than an older couple (like us).

Hope this all makes sense.

Of course it does... and I totally agree with you. My biggest reason for inquiry, I wanted to flush out your response somewhat to ensure I was thinking you were saying what in fact you were saying..... :biggrin: we were both on the same page... :thumbup:

and you explained your position well too!! LOL

Suzila · June 26, 2008

My answer would be cleanliness.

We learned a lesson when we cruised NCL this past August. There were quite a few negative reports about the service on Pride of America in Hawaii. The lesson we learned was, read the reports, know what to expect, and make up your own mind about it. We did, and extremely glad we did. We had our set on a Hawaii cruise, and I'd do NCL again in a heartbeat. We loved it.

On the other hand, we did a Panama Canal cruise a number of years ago on a Princess ship. While we enjoyed seeing new territory, exploring new places, we have shied away from going on another longer-than-7 day cruise anywhere. We, and our friends who went with us, were all in our 50's when we did the Panama Canal cruise. Our friends being on the ship really saved us, because the entertainment was boring, geared to the average age of 70 who were all on the ship.

We will wait until we retire and are older to take another longer cruise.

TheSkipper · June 26, 2008

Do you carry all of your luggage when you embark and disembark the ship??

55ChevyLady · June 26, 2008

Do you carry all of your luggage when you embark and disembark the ship??

no, have to much... :laugh:

JoeyandDavid · June 26, 2008

Do you carry all of your luggage when you embark and disembark the ship??

Never tried for embarkation.. but when I sailed the Monarch i hand carried off.. not bad .. couldn't see me doing that for a longer cruise though...

Great Question

55ChevyLady · June 26, 2008

maybe now with all the airlines starting to charge for bags people are going to start packing lighter and everyone will be carrying less baggage...so they will be carrying their own. Just a thought.